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| The peaceful Pennsylvania hillside where my daughter Abigail is buried |
"I
shall go to him"
With
heartbreak David said
He
wiped the tears from off his face
And
took a bite of bread
For
seven days he'd prayed
He'd
lain upon the ground
His
heart inside was broken
His
soul with sorrow crowned
The
little boy lay lifeless
His
breath stilled once for all
His
tiny face unmoving
Where
death had cast its pall
A
week he'd graced this Earth
Short
and none too sweet
His
eyes now closed in death
His
heart had ceased to beat
The
awful news soon spread
Throughout
the palace round
David's
servants feared to tell him
Afraid
to make a sound
His
grief had been so sharp
He'd
nearly come unhinged
Afraid
to bear the message
Against
the wall they cringed
Yet
deep in David's grief
He
noticed their discussion
He
heard their conversation
And
whispered them a question
"Is
the child dead?
Is
the boy departed?
Has
his life now ended?
For
Heaven has he started?"
In
sadness servants answered
Their
hearts all filled with woe
Yet
face the truth they must
They
gently dealt the blow
Long
moments he lay quiet
The
storm it howled and battered
Seeking
to gain purchase
Within
a heart now shattered
Then
up he picked himself
Rising
from the floor
Through
a mist of tears
He
stumbled toward the door
A
week's long worth of grime
Swirled
right down the drain
And
with it all the hope
Replaced
by piercing pain
Weeping
for a night
Yea,
seven in a row
His
tears now mingled fresh
With
water and with woe
In
stillness loud he dressed
His
motion heedless slow
His
mind was in a fog
Numb
misery did grow
He'd
begged, O how he'd begged
He'd
fasted, wept, and prayed
Screamed
in desperation
Alone,
unkempt, afraid
Yet
God had paid no mind
Careless
of David's pang
Heaven's
door stayed close
No
matter how he rang
Now
cleansed and clothed he crawled
To
worship he went crying
His
body vertical
Inside
his spirit dying
He
slumped into his seat
Lifelong
habit driven
Despair
sat down beside him
Inside
his heart was riven
Hark
now the anthem chorus
Raised
by Asaph's singers
Perhaps
a psalm of David's
Harps
played with skillful fingers
Unseen
into his soul
Peace
steals on quiet feet
Her
twin of comfort too
Arrives
and soon they meet
Inside
of David's heart
They
take up residence
Ushered
in by faith
They
bide and ne'er go hence
The
tears still flow but now
No
longer filled with torment
Instead
hope rises winging
To
heaven thoughts now bent
With
pace anew and quickened
He
turns to his abode
His
servants note the difference
Puzzled
how he rode
On
sorrow's wings on leaving
On
hope's when he returned
What
caused this different feeling?
What
in the Temple learned?
Summoning
their courage
One
of their number braced him
"David,
why the change?
What
caused your pain to dim?
Why
have you forsaken
The
grief that laid you low?
Why
have you washed and eaten?
Why
don't your tears still flow?"
In
quiet calm he answered
With
heart still hurt but hopeful
He
looked into their faces
Spoke
words serene and helpful
"I
shall go to him"
With
heartbreak David said
He
wiped the tears from off his face
And
took a bite of bread
…
Dear
hearts who gather here
In
mourning and in sorrow
I
bid you lift your spirits
The
Balm of Gilead borrow
Let
peace and comfort enter
Bid
faith and hope walk in
Remind
yourself of Heaven
No
night, no pain, no sin
No
crepe upon the doorknob
Death's
gone and won't return
Abundant
life eternal
God's
promise sure and firm
Charissa
Lynn is waiting
Cross
Jordan's far bright shore
She
will not come to us
But
we will go to her
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